April 25, 2014 NEWS zululand FEVER The ‘natural’ debate 9 Is bunk? >> ‘Evidence from research in humans does not show that homeopathy is effective for treating the range of health conditions considered’

SIBUSISO BIYELA Why is homeopathy so popular? Doctor Lance Giles treats his same conclusion, then sceptics will have [email protected] Giles,whohaspracticesinRichardsBay patients in totality. moreammunitionagainsthomeopathyas and Empangeni, attributed the popularity PHOTO: SIBUSISO BIYELA a . But judging by its legacy RACTITIONER of homeopathy Dr of homeopathy during the 19th century to spanningover200yearsandfacingcount­ Lance Giles has brushed aside the thedeathratesinnormal(allopathic)hos­ porate this philosophy. less scathing scientific analysis such as Platest scientific report on homeopa­ pitals which, when compared to homeo­ “We don’t just treat the , we the Australian study, it is unlikely that pro­ thy as “another attempt to discredit the pathic hospitals, were significantly higher. treat the person in totality,” said Giles, ex­ ponents of the practice will change their profession”. This can be attributed to the dangerous plaining why he has happy patients. mind or stop consulting homeopaths. This is in response to a draft report pre­ andineffectivemedicalproceduressuchas To explain away the claim by the Aus­ To be or not to be sented by the Australian National Health bloodletting and others practiced at allo­ tralianstudythat“homeopathicmedicine Ifthereportiscorrect,inthecaseofho­ and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) pathic hospitals at the time. performs no better than a ” Giles meopathy, belief overrides scientific evi­ which has assessed the effectiveness of Themedicalprofessionisverydifferent citedcaseswherehomeopathicveterinar­ dence and this is often not explicitly men­ homeopathy. nowandhasbecomemuchsaferandmore ians were successful in treating animals, tioned by many homeopaths. “Theevidencefromresearchinhumans effective being evidence based. There are and how he often treats children. Giles, however, does admit to the limi­ does not show that homeopathy is effec­ still many studies on homeopathy aimed “Theplaceboeffectcannotpossiblybe tationsofhomeopathy:“Ifyoucometome tive for treating the range of health condi­ at adding to the little data available. present in babies and animals,” said Giles. with a serious disease, I must realise when tions considered,” concluded the report. What’s the big deal? Is homeopathy a science? to refer you to someone else. I must under­ While most peer­reviewed clinical re­ One issue raised by sceptics and some “Yes it is,” said Giles. But he agreed stand my scope of expertise. The problem search conducted on homeopathy have scientistsagainsthomeopathyisthemed­ that peer­reviewed papers by homeo­ comes with homeopaths who don’t rea­ shown positive results, the Australian re­ icine prescribed by homeopaths. The ac­ paths are not included in mainstream lisethisandputtherestofusisabadlight.” portclaimsthatresultsfrommostofthese tive ingredients used are diluted to the medical journals and that homeopathic The verdict is still out as the study’s au­ studies are “unreliable” and show home­ point that not a single molecule of the ac­ are not put through rigorous thors have invited homeopaths from all opathy to be no better than a placebo. tiveingredientcanbedetectedinthesolu­ scientific research. Rather that the “law overtheworldwhofeelthestudyisincom­ The placebo effect is a psychosomatic tion and a certain “signature” of the agent of similars” is applied to qualify an active plete or incorrect to submit research pa­ phenomenon that appears to alleviate or is left in the water’s “memory”. ingredient. pers that contradict the study’s conclu­ sometimes completely eliminate symp­ No reliable scientific principle supports “If for example, we find a plant in na­ sion. toms based on the patient's expectation this process and if it is true, it challenges which he says is an underlying philosophy ture that secretes a yellow liquid that has Do you use homeopathic or that the treatment will work even if it (un­ basic laws of physics, chemistry and phar­ ofhomeopathy.Heattributesthenegative the properties of bile, we can use it to treat are you completely against it? Visit our beknown to the patient) chemically or macology. results of double­blind studies on some disorders for example,” said Giles. website and Facebook pages and have pharmacologically does not. Giles explained the “law of similars”, homeopathic studies as a failure to incor­ If the finished report comes to the your say.

Is a science?

SIBUSISO BIYELA saying:“Naturopathicdoctorsdiagnose,treatandre­ that have been published in reputable science and [email protected] move obstacles to health using nutrition and supple­ mainstream medical journals. mentation, botanical medicines, homeopathy, Chi­ Instead, there are a few research institutes such ACCORDING to the South African Naturopathy Asso­ nesemedicineandacupuncture,hydrotherapy,coun­ as the Naturopathic Physicians Research Institute ciation’s website (naturopathy.org.za), naturopathy seling, physical medicine and in some cases (NPRI), which comprises solely of naturopaths. And is “a distinct, integrated system of primary health intravenous therapies.” there are specialist “journals of natural medicine”. care,basedonthevitalisticprinciplesofnaturopathic Shefurthercontrastedallopathic(modern)med­ “Whileconventionalmedicineusingpharmaceu­ philosophy and holism. Vitalism treats disease icine and naturopathy, “naturopathic medicine fo­ ticals and has its place in medicine, the ad­ through the support and stimulation of the body’s cuses on the root or underlying cause of disease and verse effects and morbidities associated with main­ own inherent healing capacity”. does not merely treat symptoms ­ which is the basis stream medicine is a reason for the shift in society Richards Bay resident and doctor of naturopathic of . It takes into account the per­ towards the use of natural solutions,” she said. medicine, Faryal Luhar agrees. “It is preventive medi­ son's physical, emotional, mental, psychological, en­ cinethatemphasisesoptimalhealththroughnatural vironmental and spiritual aspects when treating an Doctor of naturopathy Faryal Luhar allows therapies and medicines that are gentle, non­inva­ individual. “There is mounting evidence speaking to people to find out for themselves why sive, and evidence­based,” says Luhar. its effectiveness, benefits and safety record,” she naturopathic medicine works. Thepracticehasbeencriticisedforitsuseofmeth­ said. There are no scientific peer­reviewed papers PHOTO: SUPPLIED ods which are not evidence­based and do not adhere to the , which has been the basis of modern science and medicine. This is the reason it is considered by many in the science community as a pseudoscience. Having practiced for 10 years, she is well aware of the scathing scepticism surrounding her practice May Specials andhasmadeithermissiontoeducatepeopleabout Prices valid 24 April - 28 May 2014 the true nature of naturopathy. “I am used to sceptics and those who resist the growing popularity of my medicine for various rea­ sons.Itendtoallowpeopletofindoutforthemselves Pull Out Spice Rack why naturopathic medicine works,” she said. Regale Handle Base Mount Chrome According to , an organisation spe­ 150 Unit 6149 2 Tier 6188 cialisingintheexposureofquackmedicalpracticede­ Florentine included fines naturopathy as a “pseudoscience”, which not meansthatclaimsmadebythefield’spractionersare 96mm 8406 99 ies

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